Archive for January, 2016

Seniors Enjoy Cremona, Italy

Get your coffee, we’re going to Italy this morning. Ever heard of Cremona? Me either, but I came across the city in one of my many travel magazines and they were high on Cremona. Senior travelers will find Cremona in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River, with around 70,000 inhabitants. The Cremona Province consists of vast plains broken up by woods and large meadows that, thanks to the canals built by inhabitants in centuries past, has been transformed into an extensive, fertile countryside ideal for agriculture.

Cremona is especially noted for its musical history and traditions, including some of the earliest and most renowned luthiers, such as Giuseppe Guarneri, Antonio Stradivari, and several members of the Amati family. I read recently of someone who just gave $2 million for a Stradivarius violin.

Cremona was a wealthy, independent city-state for centuries and boasts some fine medieval architecture, with plenty of handsome villas and mansions strewn all across the city. The Piazza del Comune, the heart of the city, is where Cremona’s historic beauty is concentrated. It’s a classic example of how the religious and secular affairs of cities were divided neatly in two.

Seniors Find City Of Musical History

Cremona is famous for its production of high-quality violins and has a picturesque historic center with most sites clustered around the main square, Piazza del Comune. Seniors, the city is well worth a visit and can easily be seen as a day trip from Milan but is also a fine place to spend a night or two.

Brittanica notes that Cremonas was founded by the Romans in 218 bc on the site of an earlier Gallic village of the Cenomani. Virgil, the Roman poet, went to school there. With the decline of the Roman Empire, Cremona was repeatedly sacked by the Goths and the Huns before being rebuilt by the Lombards in the 7th century.

Beginning in the 16th century, Cremona became renowned as a center of musical instrument manufacture, with the violins of the Amati family, and later the products of the Guarneri and Stradivari shops. To the present day, their work is widely considered to be the summit of achievement in string instrument making.

Seniors Visit The Cathedral And Bell Tower

The Cathedral bell tower, or Torrazzo, is the second tallest brick tower in Europe and Europe’s oldest surviving tower over 100 meters tall. The Cathedral (Duomo) and the Violin Museum are among the first things most senior visitors find of interest.

Construction of the cathedral began in 1107 but it took almost 70 years to finish the construction due to a major earthquake. The School of Violin and Viola Makers features a museum of antique stringed instruments in the Palazzo dell’Arte.

When you are in Italy, plan to pay Cremona a visit. You will have many fond memories of your time spent there. -jeb

Seniors Discover a Best Small Town

I asked Google for the names of the best small towns in Virginia and up pops Abingdon, with a population of just over 8,000. Seniors, let’s check Abingdon out and see what makes it so special. It is said that there is “Always Something To Do In Abingdon”.

Abingdon, the seat of Washington County, is 133 miles southwest of Roanoke and is a designated Virginia Historic Landmark. The town encompasses several historically significant sites and features a fine arts and crafts scene centered on the galleries and museums along Main Street. Barter Theatre, designated as the “State Theatre of Virginia” in 1946, is one of the longest-running professional regional theaters in the nation.

The settlement was originally known as Black’s Fort. In 1778, Black’s Fort was incorporated as the town of Abingdon, said to be named for the ancestral home of Martha Washington in Oxfordshire, England.

Could be, but other possible namesakes for the town include Daniel Boone’s home in Abington, Pennsylvania, or Lord Abingdon, friend of settler William Campbell. Me, I liked that one.

Seniors Enjoy Virginia Historic Landmark

It’s scenic in all directions. When you look at the mountains surrounding the town, you think of Daniel Boone walking through the woods or early American pioneers traveling the Great Road across the Blue Ridge Mountains to settle the new frontier.

When you stroll down Main Street, it will make you think about the Civil War soldiers involved in nearby battles who were treated by nurses on the grounds of what is now the elegant Martha Washington Hotel. Senior visitors, stroll the charming brick sidewalks of downtown Abingdon, named a Virginia Historic Landmark.

Pick up a brochure at the Visitor’s Center and take a self-guided walking tour.

Seniors Hike The Virginia Creeper Trail

TripAdvisor invites seniors to check out the two dozen major attractions not to be missed in Abingdon. After taking in a presentation at the Barter Theater, bring along some good hiking shoes and take the World Class Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34.3-mile rail-to-recreation trail starting in Abingdon.

Being an amateur oenophile, this senior would want to visit the Abingdon Vineyard and Winery, a Virginia Farm Winery nestled along the South Holston River. They feature fine wines and scenic views in a quiet Virginia surrounding.

The area is known for boating, hiking, camping, biking, horseback riding and skiing, as well as Blue Grass music, storytelling and mountain crafts. Sounds like fun.

The Arts Depot would be another worthwhile stop as would be White’s Mill, where you can watch corn being ground and tour this historic structure.

So plan on dropping by Abingdon, VA, it will be a memorable visit. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy The Famed Window Rock

Window Rock is a city (3,000+) in Apache County that serves as the seat of governmental capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory of a Sovereign Native American Nation in North America. Senior visitors will find the “Window Rock”, a “one of a kind” phenomena that the Navajo tribesmen relish.

This majestic circular rock formation that serves as a backdrop of the Navajo Nation capital is also home to a hand-carved superbly-detailed Navajo Code Talker statue and a memorial that pays tribute to Navajo veterans. In World War II, the Navajo language was used as a secret code which was never broken by the enemy.

The Navajo Nation is home to an array of unparalleled picture-perfect sites and it is also a natural magnet for the entertainment industry.

Many black and white western movies originated on the Navajo reservation and the filming continues today. A great place for senior travelers to begin their journey to the Navajo Nation is in Window Rock, which is nestled in the northeast portion of Arizona near the Arizona-New Mexico border.

Seniors Enjoy Navajo Culture

Window Rock has a Navajo cultural vibe. It is often described as the center of political activity, but it is also a great venue for educational, historical and cultural enrichment for folks of all ages.

Senior visitors who visit the World War II memorial to the Navajo veterans learn about the significance of the Navajo language in U.S. history and how it is still spoken today. The architectural design of the memorial is based upon traditional Navajo values that embodies a spirit of sacredness.

Window Rock is the home of two great celebrations – the Annual Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo and the Navajo Nation Fair in September.

The Navajo Nation Fair is the “Largest American Indian Fair” in all of North America. Both events offer senior visitors a great opportunity to see colorful Navajo dances, lively Navajo entertainers, savory Navajo cuisine and exquisite one of a kind Navajo crafts. The real draw is the beautifully-dressed Navajo elders in traditional Navajo attire and vintage jewelry.

Seniors Awed By Scenic Wonders

Until 1936, the Window Rock area was simply one of the scenic wonders of Navajoland, until the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at that time, John Collier, selected the site for the planned Navajo Center Agency. In 1936, the administrative buildings, quarried from the local sandstone, were completed.

Later, a Navajo Tribal Council House would be built in Window Rock. In 1961, a Navajo Tribal Museum was established in a small building on the Window Rock Tribal Fairgrounds. In 1997, a $7 million dollar permanent home was built to store the treasured Navajo artifacts.

So set your GPS for Window Rock, enjoy the amazing scenery, fascinating history and naturally, the famed Window Rock as well. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Cayucos By The Sea

Not big, population around 2,600, however Cayucos By The Sea is a highly popular seaside resort area along the Pacific Coast Highway 1. Senior travelers will find this census-designated place in San Luis Obispo County, between Cambria to the north and Morro Bay to the south. Many call Cayucos The Last of California Beach Towns.

Cayucos is the hispanicization of a Chumash word for “kayak,” or “canoe,” used by the Chumash people to fish in the bay, particularly in the rich kelp beds just north of the current Cayucos pier. The town took its name from the old Rancho Moro y Cayucos, a Mexican land grant awarded in 1842 that includes the present area of the town.

Cayucos lies 30 minutes from Hearst Castle, is halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and about 3 hours driving time from the San Joaquin Valley. Because of the mild seasons, cool but sunny summers, and sunny, mild winters, Cayucos is an ideal resort for summer and winter vacations.

Seniors Find Quiet, Peaceful Destination

Cass’ Wharf, as it is called, is a “Free Public Fishing Pier” for rock fishing while surf fishing can be done in Estero Bay. The quiet waters make it a haven for skin diving, swimming, surfing and sea kayaking. Rockhounds and driftwood gatherers have miles of shoreline for collecting California souvenirs.

The local Chamber notes that “visitors can come to listen to the quiet and stillness that only a small town in an untouched countryside can provide. Cayucos is the perfect remedy for those who suffer from the ills and frustrations of life in the fast lane in crowded cities. Peaceful, underdeveloped ranch lands with cattle grazing on undulating, oak-crested hills provide a respite for the city weary, and vineyards are not far away for wine tasting tours. There is virtually no city noise, no traffic, no pollution and no crime in Cayucos.”

TripAdvisor suggests that you not miss a stroll down the famous Cayucos Pier. They also highlight the Old Cayucos Tavern & Card Room. Senior hikers, the Estero Bluffs State Park awaits your visit. The Cayucos State Beach and its historic buildings remains the highlight of the town.

Seniors Enjoy Old Cayucos Tavern

“Cayucos was born during the days of Spanish land grants, and grew up with sailing ships and steamers, rum runners and revenuers. Gamblers and seafarers met in the Old Cayucos Tavern, and adventurers and romantics of all kinds still rendezvous there today. Cayucos sits at the foot of the hills with its toes in the sand, and awaits you and your exploration.”

Writing daily travel blogs, I see hundreds of ‘official homepages’ and I really liked this one. It is different and loaded with helpful information for senior visitors. Senior travelers, make a stop at “A Town That Time Forgot” and “Where the old west meets the ocean” on busy Route 1. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Bath

Bath, the county seat in Sagadahoc County, Maine has a population just over 8,400. The city is popular with tourists, senior visitors drawn by its 19th-century architecture. It is commonly known as “The City of Ships”.

Abenaki Indians called the area Sagadahoc, meaning “mouth of big river.” It was a reference to the Kennebec River, which Samuel de Champlain explored in 1605. Most of Bath, Maine, was settled by travelers from Bath, England, and thus the name.

Bath is known as home of the world-class shipbuilder, Bath Iron Works. The HENRY B. HYDE, a three-masted full-rigged wooden ship, and the six-masted schooner WYOMING, the largest of their kind ever built in America, were constructed in Bath.

Seniors Discover A Shipbuilding Town

Several industries developed in the city, including lumber, iron and brass, with trade in ice and coal. But Bath is renowned for shipbuilding, which began in 1743 when Jonathan Philbrook and his sons built 2 huge ships. Since then, roughly 5,000 vessels have been launched in the area, which at one time had more than 200 shipbuilding firms.

Bath became the nation’s fifth largest seaport by the mid-19th century, producing clipper ships that sailed to ports around the world. “Shipyards once lined the river’s edge where bald eagles fly over the ice flows moving upstream, where striper bass run in the spring, fireworks light the summer sky, and the rich colors of autumn reflect in the water. Bath’s vessels have sailed the seas of the world, hugged the American coasts, and even carried timber-framed homes to the colonial West Indies and other Bath-built ships to Gold-Rush California.”

Bath won the 2012 Great American Main Street Award, a program originated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. TripAdvisor has been to Bath and has 16 attractions not to be missed, including the Maine Maritime Museum.

Senior Birders Enjoy Bath

Bath is flanked by two of Maine’s most beautiful sandy beaches: Reid State Park and Popham Beach State Park. Senior bird watchers can visit the Josephine Newman Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Hamilton or Butler’s Head Sanctuaries, or Montsweag Preserve. Eagles and osprey are frequent visitors to the Kennebec River area. In autumn senior visitors can see awesome colorful foliage as well.

My wife and I are big B&B fans. The Benjamin F. Packard House, beautifully restored as a B&B, was built in 1790, and is located in the heart of Bath’s Historic District. Maybe check it out for a couple of nights in Bath.

Beautiful Downtown Bath has a unique mix of services, shops, and restaurants. Stroll down Front and Centre Streets, along the 19th century brick buildings and narrow streets, and feel a comfortable pace and friendly pedestrian atmosphere. It is a great walking city.

Seniors, set your GPS for Bath, Maine and enjoy a few days in this charming town. -jeb

Seniors Visit Exciting Revelstoke

Get your coffee, friends, we’re going to British Columbia this morning. Revelstoke, a city in southeastern British Columbia, with a population of 7,139, is referred to by the locals as Revy. Senior travelers will find Revelstoke on the banks of the Columbia River just south of the Revelstoke Dam and near its confluence with the Illecillewaet River.

Named a “must do trip” on National Geographic’s Ultimate Adventure Bucket List, senior adventurers will find a vibrant mountain community with a rich heritage.

The many winter sports are the cream of the crop: North America’s greatest vertical at Revelstoke Mountain Resort, world class Snowmobile trails blanketed with an average snowfall of 40-60 feet per year, 25+ km of groomed Nordic trails, easy access to the best Backcountry Touring experience on earth, and more Helicopter and Cat Ski/Snowboard operations than people (ok, well not quite).

Seniors Bike and Hike In Summer Months

As the summer heat melts the snow back to the summits, the high mountain peaks of the area are revealed. Inland and alpine adventures abound in the Monashee and Selkirk mountain ranges. Hiking explorations in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Park, world famous alpine mountain biking trails, a new dirt biking trail network that keeps on growing, and a Championship Golf Course that borders the Columbia River.

Revelstoke’s economy has traditionally been tied to the Canadian Pacific Railway and it still maintains a strong connection to that industry. Senior visitors will find plenty to keep them occupied any time of the year.

Revelstoke has produced some talented athletes in winter sports, notably ice hockey. The former local BCJHL team, the Revelstoke Bruins, had a number of future NHLers on its roster in the 1970s and 1980s.

Seniors Enjoy Revelstoke’s Awesome Surroundings

Way back when, Norwegian immigrants brought the skiing and ski jumping to Revelstoke, and by the 1910s, several ski jumping hills had been built around town. Revelstoke Ski Club was founded in 1914, and by the following year had reached 102 members. Sitting between the Selkirk and Monashee Mountain Ranges, Revelstoke has an awesome setting on the main east-west transportation corridor through BC.

Revelstoke was founded in the 1880s when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built through the area and mining was an important early industry. The city was originally named Farwell, after a local land owner and surveyor. Choose a YouTube video here and enjoy all the scenery and the Snow Show. I liked the second one down entitled Revelstoke Year Round, but just let it keep playing and another and another will follow.

TripAdvisor notes nearly 40 attractions that senior visitors can enjoy, starting with the Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail and of course the Revelstoke Mountain Resort, and the Enchanted Forest…always a big hit.

Seniors Stop in Westwood

So where did this senior blogger come up with Westwood today? Dr. Edward Zarrow, a Latin teacher at Westwood High School in Westwood, Massachusetts was named the 2016 National Language Teacher by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Congrats to Edward. I was associated with ACTFL for years and a member of their Executive Council.

A new Westwood High School was recently constructed at a cost of $45M, and the old school, built in 1957, was demolished. The gymnasium and swimming facility from the old school were refurbished and are now part of the new high school campus.

The school facilities also include a new multi-use artificial turf field named after former Westwood High School principal and teacher Charles Flahive with a synthetic track, both of which are open to the public. Westwood is also home to Xaverian Brothers High School, a Catholic prep school for boys.

Seniors Enjoy Another ‘Best Place To Live’

Senior travelers will find Westwood in Norfolk County, Massachusetts 12 miles from Boston with a population right at 15,000. In July 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Westwood 13th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.

Boston Magazine included Gay Street in Westwood on its list of the Best Streets in the Boston area. Westwood is currently the 16th wealthiest town in Massachusetts.

Westwood is recognized for its quality education. Students consistently score in the top percentiles on national tests, MCAS, and the overwhelming majority of students graduating from the high school go on to higher education.

The Town has two libraries, a senior center, Youth & Family Services, and numerous community-sponsored events for the Town’s residents. The 1,200 acre Hale Reservation is a popular spot for conservation and for taking a stroll.

Seniors Enjoy Historical Districts

Westwood was first settled in 1641 and was part of the town of Dedham until it was officially incorporated in 1897. It was the last town to split from the original town of Dedham. It was originally to have been named the “Town of Nahatan.” Like so many villages and towns on the east coast, names were changed a number of times.

And to add one more historic site, Fisher School—High Street Historic District is a historic district on High Street, distinguished by its concentration of Federal and Greek Revival houses from the early 19th century.

Seniors, plan to drop by Westwood on your visit to the east coast and Boston. -jeb

Seniors Drop By Rockledge

Rockledge, the oldest city in Brevard County, Florida, has a population right at 26,000. Senior travelers will find that Rockledge is part of the Palm Bay−Melbourne−Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Rockledge was officially founded on August 7, 1887, making it the oldest incorporated municipality in Brevard County.

Do you wonder where a city called Rockledge got its name? I do. The name Rockledge, attributed to Gardner S. Hardee, an early settler, comes from the many ledges of coquina rock that line the Indian River.

Other sources refer to a man named Cephas Bailey Magruder, who built his home after settling in the area in 1876 near the Indian River. Magruder called his home “the rockledge home” and the name was eventually attributed to the whole town.

Seniors Fish and Golf In Rockledge

TripAdvisor, I have discovered from my experience as a travel writer, likes to promote various food establishments. Such is the case of their 8 things to do in Rockledge. Fishing and golf are big in and around Rockledge, so seniors, toss in your clubs and a fishing pole.

Previously, the economy of this area was based on the citrus trade and accommodation for tourists traveling to South Florida. Presently, it also focuses greatly on technology and aerospace.

Rockledge has a number of well built parks with softball, soccer and football complexes. The city also includes a senior center where senior citizens can enjoy night dances, dance lessons, art class, a choral group, craft group, duplicate and party bridge, quilting group, Pinochle, Canasta and aerobics/ exercise.

In addition, you can enjoy ghost tours in Rockledge. Think you might like to live in a an Ai Dome home? Check them out.

Seniors Find Things To Do In Rockledge

Things for seniors to see and do in Rockledge include Cocoa Beach sportfishing, the H. S. Williams House, Cocoa Beach Kayaking, the McLarty Park. All very popular with folks of all ages.

You will discover a host of nearby cities that make it easy for a commute to see other nearby sites. Space Coast Iceplex offers public skating, Ice Hockey and figure skating…When was the last time you went ice skating? Time to get back in form here.

And for you golfaholics, Rockledge is the place to be. So spend some time in Rockledge and enjoy the many attractions and fun things to do. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Westmont

Westmont is not large but has several attractions in town that bring in visitors of all ages. Westmont is a village in DuPage County, Illinois. Senior travelers will find it approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of the Chicago Loop in the southeastern portion of the County. The village is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area with a population of around 25,000.

Gregg’s Station, the name by which Westmont was first known, began as a stop to load agricultural and dairy products on the train. It soon began a gradual transition from an agricultural community to a commuter community. Fields and dairy herds gave way to developments and formal platting of land began.

The area known as Westmont was inhabited by the Potawatami until 1833. After several failed attempts by the U.S. government to persuade the Native Americans to move from the area, in 1833, the Native Americans agreed under coercion to vacate their land for nominal payment.

Seniors Discover Trails That Became Highways

The Indians had established an elaborate system of trails, which later became the settler’s first highways including The Buffalo Trail and the Ottawa and LaSalle Trail. The Buffalo Trail, today named Naperville Road, was later used as a stage line between Chicago and Naperville.

The Ottawa and LaSalle Trail is today Ogden Avenue or Route 34. The first permanent settler in DuPage County was Bailey Hobson who passed through the Westmont area in 1829, on his way to the Naperville settlement. The French trapper and hunter, Francois DuPage, after whom the county was named, traveled through the area in the late 18th century.

The development of the Illinois-Michigan Canal, authorized by the State of Illinois in the 1820s but delayed in construction until the 1830s, contributed to Westmont’s early growth.

When the economic Panic of 1837 halted canal construction, many of the workers turned to farming, and agriculture became the major occupation, with produce sold in nearby Chicago. The area around Westmont became one of the most prosperous sections of the state.

Seniors Enjoy Chicago Suburb

Muddy Waters, a musician who is considered to be the father of Chicago blues, lived in Westmont. Ty Warner, industrialist and inventor of Beanie Babies also called Westmont home. Remember Beanie Babies?

And what can seniors do in Westmont? You can visit their parks, enjoy the Gregg House Museum, a historic Victorian building or play a round or two of golf at one of the three golf courses.

Senior shoppers will enjoy several shopping centers that are part of Westmont.Not far away senior travelers will find the Brookfield Zoo, the Morton Arboretum and the Graue Mill and Museum.

Seniors Visit The Flagship City

Erie, which seniors locate in northwestern Pennsylvania, is named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore.Erie is the state’s fourth-largest city, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown, with a population of 102,000. It certainly has a bunch of nicknames, like The Flagship City, The Gem City, The Bay City, The Lake City.

FYI: Erie is known as the Flagship City because of its status as the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship Niagara. The city is called the Gem City because of the “sparkling” lake. I discovered that Erie was named for the Eriez tribe, who spoke an Iroquois language and in their language “Erie” means “raccoon.”

Fishing is BIG in Erie. Many charter boat companies take senior visitors to the best fishing spots on Lake Erie, or of course, you can fish from the shore.

Victorian Princess Cruise Lines provide more luxurious ways to get out and enjoy a boat ride on the Lake. Lake Erie was chosen as one of the top-20 family-fishing spots in the nation by Field & Stream.

Senior Visitors Spend Time at Presque Isle State Park

Erie’s Metropolitan Area consists of approximately 280,000 residents. This Visit Erie website has it all lined up for your visit, including access to a helpful online Adventure Guide.

Once teeming with heavy industry, Erie’s manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy. Millions visit Erie for recreation as well as a plethora of attractions like the casino and horse racetrack named for the state park.

Nestled between the shores of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay is Erie’s top attraction – Presque Isle State Park. With sandy beaches and endless outdoor recreation, Presque Isle (French for “almost an island”) is a National Natural Landmark and one of Pennsylvania’s top vacation destinations.

Welcoming over 4 million visitors annually especially during the summer months, the Park has 7 miles of beaches, world-class sunsets and plentiful outdoor recreation.

Lake Erie is the world’s 13th-largest natural lake and home port of the U.S. Brig Niagara, the flagship of Commodore Perry. The Niagara was vital to the Commodore’s victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 and is now a floating maritime museum.

Erie is home to the oldest land lighthouse on the Great Lakes. If the weather’s rough, you can still enjoy the water at the indoor Splash Lagoon Waterpark. Senior travelers, set your sites on Erie along Lake Erie, the warmest of the Great Lakes, and plan to spend some quality time enjoying the many amenities the city has to offer. -jeb